St Joseph's Cathedral, Hyderabad

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Façade of the Cathedral

St Joseph's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Hyderabad, India, located at Gunfoundry, north of Abids and King Koti, and is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad.

Mass times are: daily 6:00 AM (English) and 6:00 PM (English); Sundays: 6:30 AM (English), 8:00 AM (English); 9:15 AM (Telugu); 6:00 PM (English). Current Parish Priest is Reverend Father C.Arogyam; Assistant Parish Priest is Reverend Father K.Yohanu,mf. Telephone: 91 (country code) 40-23234165 Google map: St Joseph's Cathedral, Hyderabad, India

[edit] History

Established in the year 1820, the construction of the present structure began in 1869 when Fr. Antonio Tagliabue PIME, bought an extensive plot of land near Chaderghaat, in what is presently called Gunfoundry (so named for the ammunition centre built there by the Nizam of Hyderabad), to build a school, a church and a convent. Msgr. Pietro Caprotti PIME, laid its foundation on 18th March 1870, the eve of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Fr. Luigi Malberti PIME, took charge in 1872 and completed the main building which was consecrated and opened for divine worship on Christmas Eve of 1875. Hyderabad was made a separate diocese in 1886 and in a consistory held in 1887, Pope Leo XIII declared St. Joseph's as the Cathedral of the diocese, now an archdiocese. The façade and the bell towers were completed in 1891 and the bells, imported from Italy, were installed in 1892. The bells are tuned to such fashion that many hymns can be played on them.

Extensive renovation work has been done on the roof and interior of the structure between 2004 and 2008, making it necessary at one point for Mass to be held in the newly constructed multi-purpose hall on the cathedral grounds. A beautiful six-foot high granite wainscot has been added to the cathedral sanctuary walls and column bases, and new granite flooring has been added throughout, as well as a new roof, new lighting and electrical fixtures. Much of the artwork, including the beautifully carved imported antique marble side altars and marble statues of Mary and St Francis, an antique European oil painting of the Blessed Mother and Christ Child which was gifted to the cathedral by one of the Nizams, an antique set of the Stations of the Cross in high bas-relief made by European craftsmen, and various other statues of local craftsmanship, were cleaned and restored at this time. In December 2007, the cathedral was re-opened for the celebration of Holy Mass during the Christmas celebrations. Extensive construction on the grounds, including the grand entrance stairway from the street to the cathedral, and a large terrace with a multi-purpose hall below, was begun in 2001 under the administration of then Parish Priest, Reverend Father Lourdu. Renovation to the exterior of the structure is currently underway.